Shoulder Title

[Terry Rayner]

Hello Troops
My Dad enlisted into the Essex Regt, on the 15/7/43. I am putting a frame together, photos, medals and his original cap badge. Could anybody tell me if at that time, he would have worn cloth or metal shoulder titles.
Terry

[JerryBB]

Almost certainly he would have worn cloth titles, if any titles were worn in 1943, but in theory not in the frontline. You see very few titles being worn in the far east or middle east. If he was still in the uk in 43 then cloth titles.

[Terry Rayner]

Thanks Jerry. Cloth titles it is. I will keep my eye out for a pair.
Regards Terry

[Postwarden]

Strangely enough this is not a simple question.

Until 1943 the only official titles were the slip-on versions with black lettering on khaki. At the end of 1943 these were replaced by printed red and white titles which were worn for the rest of the war. Embroidered titles were not officially introduced until 1946/47 although quite a few regiments adopted them unofficially, buying them direct from manufacturers, still unidentified.

For your frame the type of titles attached would be correct.

Jon

[Terry Rayner]

Thanks Jon. That's a big help.
Regards Terry